Hawaii Academy

Max Vercruyssen, PhD, Academy Director. Dr. Max was a gymnast, head coach (club, high school, and college for boys and girls at all levels), club owner/director in Montana and Colorado, elite national women's judge, exercise physiology and biomechanics researcher, national statistician, international clinician, and equipment design consultant. He began coaching in 1970. He is an internationally distinguished research scientist who has had appointments in European and American universities including the University of Hawaii (Geriatric Medicine, Gerontology, Kinesiology, Psychology), Technische Universitat Eindhoven (Gerontechnology), University of Southern California (Human Factors, Ergonomics, Safety Science, Systems Management, Gerontology), University of Minnesota (Transportation Studies, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Kinesiology), and Pennsylvania State University (Kinesiology, Psychology, Ergonomics & Applied Physiology, Human Performance Research, Transportation Research). He is a father of four girls. He also serves as the Interim Head of the Departments of Research and Academic Instruction, and the International and Elite Trampoline Program. He coaches and judges the elite-level trampolinists and teaches the seniors exercise classes (oldest=99yrs).

Donna Mah, MD, Academy Associate Director & Team Physician. Dr. Mah was a Hawaii State champion gymnast who became a high school (Punahou) and college (University of Denver) All-American. She was voted the team captain at each school she attended and received outstanding scholar-athlete and most inspirational gymnast awards. She started coaching in 1978 and loves working with gymnasts of all levels and ages. She completed her bachelor's degree in Pre-Medicine at Penn State, her MD at the University of Hawaii, and her pediatrics residency at the University of California-Irvine. She is a board-certified Pediatrician (with special interest in pediatric sports medicine) in private practice, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Hawaii John Burns School of Medicine, small business owner, mother of four girls (all competing for the Academy). Dr Mah is the Adult Trampoline Program Head, teaches the adult classes (19-49yrs) and wherever needed on all teams.

Mia Vercruyssen, Academy Asst Director, Team Coach/Judge, and Recreation Instructor.  Coach Mia began helping at the Academy as an instructor’s assistant at the age of ten. Since then she has taught students of all ages in recreational artistic gymnastics, trampoline, tumbling, fitness, and cheerleading classes. Mia has also coached the state and travelling trampoline teams, conducted flip and handspring clinics, and judged local trampoline competitions. She applies her technical knowledge as a former state and regional level artistic gymnast, state and national trampoline champion, international trampoline competitor, and high school cheerleader, with her love of teaching, to make her classes as fun and educational as possible. In the office, Mia serves as an assistant director, day manager, and technical writer. She is currently studying Public Relations at Eastern Washington University, but helps at the Academy whenever possible.  After graduation in 2012 she hopes to work in Japan teaching English as a second language before attending graduate school.

Paris Macabeo Spahn, BA, Academy Associate Director On Leave and Substitute Manager. Paris joined HA in 2005 primarily for customer service (recreation office receptionist), management of gym activities Monday through Friday (including staffing, student placement, and event rotations), and some secretarial support as needed for the Academy and the research program. Since then she has acquired business operations skills for running nearly all systems and served as head of personnel.  After finishing her degrees she took a position as a full time human resources manager leaving less time available to work at the Academy.  Now she fills in for day managers and continues substituting as a director when Dr Max, Dr Mah, or Coach Justine are away.

Responsible for the Planning, Staffing, Scheduling, Curricula, and Daily Operation of Their Departments

Janet Onigama, Registrar, Payroll Clerk & Operations Dept Interim Chair. Mrs Onigama takes care of all member registration, employee payroll, tuition accounting, and volunteers a huge amount of time on our concessions. With her husband, Rod, and son, Kelsen, (plus Noe and Matt Moniz) they stock our concessions and product sales with 100% of the profit going back to equipment purchases and maintenance. More equipment has been purchased and repaired with money from the concessions sales than all other sources combined. Imagine the hundreds of hours spent on buying supplies, transporting them, and stocking the shelves. Buy concession items to continue supporting HA.

Shawna Northrop, CPA, Development Department Chair & Academy Accountant. Contact her regarding fundrasing, endowments, tax deductible donations, sponsorships, alumni relations, public relations, service contracting, etc.

Responsible for the daily operation of the Academy

To Be Named, Secretary and Receptionist.

To Be Named, Academy Accountant. This position is open. Please contact the reception office and complete an employment application. Preference given member families but all applicants are seriously considered.

Sport Program Heads: Coach Kira Vercruyssen, Trampoline Gymnastics Teams Head Coach; Mr David Wilson, Women's Artistic Gymnastics Teams Head Coach; Coach Zach Giano Mixed Gymnastics Teams Head Coach;and Dr Max Vercruyssen, Elite-Level Trampoline Head Coach. Dr Donna Mah serves as the Team Physician and Assistant Coach for all sport programs.

Max Vercruyssen, PhD, International, Elite, & College Trampoline Program Head. Dr. Max was has been an elite national judge in women's artistic gymnastics and trampoline-tumbling, a nationally ranked judge in men's artistic gymnastics, and a coach at nearly all levels for all three disciplines. He began coaching in 1970 and has produced many national champions and world-level elite athletes.

These coaches are responsible for training athletes according to policies of the Athletics Department and the mission of the Academy

Mia Vercruyssen, TrampTumb and Cheer Coach & Recreation Instructor.Coach Mia began helping at the Academy as an instructor’s assistant at the age of ten. Since then she has taught students of all ages in recreational artistic gymnastics, trampoline, tumbling, fitness, and cheerleading classes. Mia has also coached the state and travelling trampoline teams, conducted flip and handspring clinics, and judged local trampoline competitions. She applies her technical knowledge as a former state and regional level artistic gymnast, state and national trampoline champion, international trampoline competitor, and high school cheerleader, with her love of teaching, to make her classes as fun and educational as possible. In the office, Mia serves as an assistant director, day manager, and technical writer. She is currently studying Public Relations at Eastern Washington University, but helps at the Academy whenever possible.  After graduation in 2012 she hopes to work in Japan teaching English as a second language before attending graduate school.

In addition to the administrators and coaches mentioned above, here are some of the individuals that instruct classes at the Academy:

Spencer Dupio, Recreation Instructor. Instructor Spencer is a Roosevelt High School Sophmore with a very high ability in mathematics. He is also a very talented gymnast, which he has proven on several occasions nationally and internationally on the trampoline team. In 2005 he was the Level 10 national champion on double mini and placed 43rd in the International Age Group Competitions in the Netherlands. He is currently on the US Junior Elite National Double Mini Tramp Team and is scheduled to compete in world competitions in 2006. He has the highest vertical jump (as a percentage of his height) of anyone at the Academy.

Joan Kufferath, Senior Exercise Class Instructor. Teacher Joan is a member of the senior exercise class and the one who makes sure everything runs smoothly when Dr Max is not teaching the class. Each week she is the first to arrive, usually opens the gym, and the last to leave. She is the first grandmother state champion in Hawaii. She is the USAG Hawaii Trampoline Champion for seniors (Level 1 in 2003 and Level 2 in 2004). She is getting younger each year, not older.

Michael Nakashima, Michael Nakashima, BA, Movement Education Program Head, Trampoline-Tumbling Judge, Monday Senior Class Instructor, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday Parent-Tot & Preschool Coordinator. Teacher Mike is a well-qualified instructor having earned a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education and certificate in Early Childhood Development from Long Beach State University in California. His 25 years of past gymnastics experience includes being a USA Gymnastics National Safety Instructor, an NCAA University gymnastics coach at Long Beach State University, a Compulsory Team Coach, a USAG Skill Evaluator, a Trampoline-Tumbling judge (levels 1-5), the past Gymnastics Director at Hickham Gymnastics, and of course a very fun-loving Parent/Toddler and Preschool Instructor here at HA. After teaching Physical Education at various YMCAs and Long Beach Unified Schools, he has been a wonderful addition to the Academy's staff, always willing to do more than just teach. And when he's not busy engaging kids in his classes, he enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, gardening, and pretending that he knows how to play guitar well.

Joelle Perkins, Recreational Instructor & Receptionist. A 2005 honors graduate of Kamehameha High School where she was a springboard diver and previous gymnast, Teacher Joelle can be seen working in the office when help is needed, teaching a variety of preschool, beginning, and intermediate classes, and just being an all-around team player. Her dedication to teaching what she knows to her students has made her a well-liked and popular instructor at the Academy. She is currently a sophomore majoring in Economics at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, but if she's not there or here at the Academy, she is probably spending quality time with friends or at the beach just hanging out.

Justine Perkins, MA, Past Girls Gymnastics Head Coach & PE/Recreation Dept coChair. Coach Justine is a graduate of Kamehameha High School and Wilson College, Chambersburg, PA, where she competed on their gymnastics teams (ILH & NCAA Division 3). She has a masters degree culinary arts, a bachelors in Business and a minor in Athletic Coaching. She is USAG safety certified and a professional member. Her expertise is in gymnastics but she is expanding to trampoline, tumbling, and team coaching. She is especially talented at teaching recreation and developmental classes. She is one of our 'top gun' for birthday parties and special events. She's a great organizer and people person.

Michelle Radovan, Recreation Instructor, Assistant International Team Coach, International Trampolinist. For the past four years Teacher Michelle has been a great addition to the Academy as a Level 10 (FIG) international trampoline team member with a rich history of artistic gymnastics (Level 8). She has competed in a number of competitions not only here in Hawaii but also on the mainland and has just started assistant-coaching the International Team. While quiet and unassuming, she is strategic and relentless in her personal training and works hard to make herself the best that she can be. Teacher Michelle was born and spent her early childhood in Germany and eagerly anticipates international travel with her teammates this year. She has always been a very active individual not only in gymnastics but also in dancing, one of her interests as well as the aforementioned.

Those directly or indirectly involved in enhancing the services provided by the Academy

Stephen Fearing, Olympic Freestyle Ski Coach. Coach Fearing was on the US Ski Team before coaching the Canadian National Team and the Japanese National Team (10 years). He is the personal coach of Tae Satoya (4x Olympian, 1 gold, 1 bronze) and is training her at Hawaii Academy for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. Tae and Coach Stephen plan four 3-week training camps with us before the Olympics. Please welcome them, Coach Stephen's wife, Junko, and their three children, who you will see attending parent-tot classes.

Peter A Hancock, DSc, PhD, International Ergonomics & Human Performance Consultant. ProfDr Hancock is world renowned in his field with over 800 publications and numerous international awards of merit to his credit. He is currently the Provost's Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, among many other appointments. He has received the Sir Frederic Taylor Award from the International Ergonomics Association for lifetime achievement. His exceptional achievements are listed at http://www.mit.ucf.edu/. Professor Hancock collaborates with Hawaii Academy and Psy-Med Associates as needed on projects undertaken.

Munehiko Harada, PhD, International Recreation & Sports Management Consultant. ProfDr Harada is Japan's leading leisure and sports management expert. Now at Waseda University, Dr Harada has seeded his graduate students throughout Japan for the past 20 years and now has a network that permits rapid application of good ideas. He is an active researcher who travels the world usually consulting or negotiating bids for Olympic venues.

Responsible for assisting in the daily operations of the Academy

Valiere Mendez
Head Custodian

Those involved primarily in research operations